active
ACTIVE SINCE: 2015
Back to Collaborations

The Blue Tree, India

An oncology patient support initiative, designed to take care of the multiple hurdles that a patient has to go through during the course of accessing treatment. The program, through a single platform, mimics the patient journey and enables patients to overcome access hurdles, including diagnosis, reimbursement, affordability and adherence.
SGDS CONTRIBUTING TO:
SHOW SUB-TARGETS + HIDE SUB-TARGETS -
MEMBER COMPANIES:
PARTNERING WITH:
SEE ALL PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
Generic Manufacturers 1
Logistics and Supply Chain 1
Technology 1
Other Business Sector 1
Professional Services 3
Hospitals Health Facilities 2
Financial Institutions 1
Objectives

To provide a comprehensive and integrated patient support program to overcome the multiple hurdles that a patient has to go through to receive treatment for cancer. The programme strives to ensure that all aspects of treatment are covered: from disease awareness and testing, funding solutions, home delivery of drugs, adherence support and standardised reports.

In 2015, Roche India launched the Blue Tree programme in partnership with local stakeholders to increase access to cancer care. The programme helps Doctors and patients make informed decisions on the best treatment.

For patients, programme coordinators provide clear, reliable information in nine languages on five different types of cancers (breast, lung, colorectal, ovarian and cervical). For doctors, free biomarker tests are provided for patients who cannot afford or access quality testing facilities.

Eligible patients find funding from a range of sources, including government, local health authorities, charities and preferential loans. This ensures patients are correctly treated.

Programme coordinators remind patients once a month and then two days prior to an infusion, with a follow-up call post-infusion to confirm treatment is complete.

The programme updates prescribers’ records for enrolled patients to ensure proper monitoring of treatment. It also connects patients with Roche’s medicine access initiative which makes available all our key products – including cancer treatments. In remote locations, where access to treatment can be a challenge, we arrange delivery of the medicine to the patient’s home.

Quote
Patient
Results and milestones

At the end of 2022, over 13,900+ patients were supported by The Blue Tree in over 500+ hospitals and treatment centres.

These patients have shown a 40% increase in therapy adherence rates.

The programme continues, and we aim to add more services, such as home infusion to make it easier to get treatment apart from several financial and non financial Value Added services that are already available for patients (Crowdfunding, 0% EMI support, Counselling sessions on Nutrition, Psychosocial & Physiotherapy etc).

Geographic Reach
  • South-East Asia
See Where
Disease Area
  • Non-communicable diseases
See Disease Areas
Target Population
  • Children
  • Women
Partner organizations
Generic Manufacturers
Medybiz

Partner to provide patient purchased vials at patient’s home or provided address of delivery.

Logistics and Supply Chain
Unique
Courier

Logistics partner that helps in delivering medicines and other treatment supplies to the patients at their provided address of delivery.

Technology
Tech Mahindra
Limited

The Blue Tree programme is managed by a third party vendor i.e. Tech Mahindra Limited. They help the patient navigate through the different service offerings of the program through a dedicated team of six tele-coordinators and seven field coordinators.

Other Business Sector
Cerebrus
Consulting

Third party external auditor conducting regular audits to ensure adherence of the program to the program guidelines by implementer partner.

Professional Services
Dr. Lal
Pathlabs

Provide diagnostic testing for patients

Oncquest

Diagnostic partner providing free key bio marker testing to the patients

S K
Distributors

Stocking and distribution of medicines and other treatment supplies is taken care by a distributor partner called SK distributor.

Hospitals Health Facilities
Multiple hospitals (Public and Private
Hospitals)

Hospital partnership helps in educating patients about the programme.

Saarathi
Healthcare

Managers of the Blue Tree Programme. Provide patient assistance through the phone.

Financial Institutions
ICICI
Bank

Provides healthcare loans to patients.

Additional resources

FURTHER READING

Geographic Reach

South-East Asia

  • India

Disease Area

Non-communicable diseases

  • Cancer
    • Brain Cancer
    • Breast Cancer
    • Cervical Cancer
    • Colorectal Cancer
    • Hematological Cancers
    • Lung Cancer
    • Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
    • Ovarian Cancer
    • Renal Cell Cancer
of